Station-indicator.



J. F. POOL.

STAHON INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-16.1915. 1,176,599. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-16, 1915.

1,176,599. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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JOHN F. POOL, OF MOUNT CARMEL, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-HALF TO THEODORE M. PUCKETT, OF MOUNT CARMEL, ILLINOIS.

STATION-INDICATOR.

Application filed March 16, 1915.

To oZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. POOL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mount Carmel, in the county of Wabash and State of Iilinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Station- Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in station indicators for railway cars.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide .a station indicator for railway cars whereby the passengers may be advised of the names of the stations or streets as the car travels from one end of the line to the other, and which may be readily and quickly reversed when the end of the line reached so that the names of the stations or streets will appear successively in the reverse order, thereby notifying the occupants of the car on the return trip of the order of the names of the streets or stations successively as the latter are approached.

t is also my purpose to improve and simplify the general construction of station indicators for railway cars and to provide an indicator wherein the component parts will be so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum and which may be manufactured, installed and operated at a. minimum expense.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a station indicator constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the indicator. F 3 is a similar 'iew taken on a plane parallel with Fig. 2 showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentarv horizontal sectional view through the indicator. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the key. Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of a detail of the invention. Fig. 8 is a similar view of another detail, partly in section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a casing of appropriate construction and having the front wall formed centrally with a horizontal window opening Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Serial No. 14,702.

2. Suitably fastened to the inner surfaces of the respective side walls of the casing adjacent to the rear wall are vertical sup porting brackets 3 each formed with forwardly projecting supporting arms 4, 5 arranged adjacent to the upper and lower ends respectively of the brackets. The forward extremities of the arms 4, 4 terminate approximately centrally of the casing and these arms aline with each other and formed in the forward extremities of the arms are bearing openings in which is journaled a shaft 6 capable of rotation. The arms 5 aline with each other and the forward extremities thereof are disposed approximately centrally of the casing and formed with horizontally alining bearing openings in which is journaled a shaft 7 disposed below the shaft 6 parallel with the latter. Suitably fixed to each shaft 6, 7 is a drum 8 adapted to rotate with the particular shaft. Journaled in horizontally alining bearings carried by the inner surfaces of the side walls of the casing are horizontal shafts 9, 9 arranged forwardly of the shafts 6 and 7 and disposed parallel with each other and between the shafts 6 and 7. founted upon the shafts 9, 9 are tension rollers 10, 10 respectively. Journaled in horizontally alining bearings carried by the inner surfaces of the respective side walls of the casing 1 is a shaft 11 disposed adjacent to and above the window 2, while journaled in alining bearings carried by the side walls of the easing is a shaft 12 disposed below and in proximity to the window opening Upon these shafts 11 and 12 are mounted guide rollers 13 respectively. Fixed to the drum 8 on the shaft 6 and wrapped tl'iereabout is one end of a tape or web 1 1 having the remaining end thereof trained under the tension roller 10 on the upper shaft 9 over the guide roller 13 on the top shaft 11, down past the sight window 2, under the drum 13 on the lower shaft 12, over the bottom tension roller 10 and secured to and wrapped about the drum 8 on the bottom shaft 7. The names of the streets or stations are in scribed on the tape or web 14 and spaced apart along the web and as the web is moved in one direction incident to the winding up of one drum 8 and the unwinding of the other drum the names of the streets of stations appear in the sight opening 2 successively, while when the direction of movement of the tape 14 is reversed incident to the reversal of the drums, the names of the streets or stations appear in the sight opening successively in the reverse order.

In the present instance, the operating mechanism for the shafts 6 and 7 comprises ratchet wheels 15, 15 fixed upon correspond ing ends of the shafts 6 and 7 respectively, and arms 16, 16 loosely surrounding the corresponding ends of the shafts 6 and 7 adjacent to the ratchet wheels 15 and projecting toward the front wall of the casing 1. Secured to each arm 16 and depending therefrom is a sector 17 disposed in proximity to the periphery of the adjacent ratchet wheel concentrically of the latter and pivoted upon each sector 17 is a pawl lever 18 curved to conform to the curvature of the ratchet wheel and having the pawl end 19 thereof designed to engage the teeth of the cooperating ratchet wheel and the remaining end disposed above the particular lever 16 and formed with an opening 20 in which is connected one end of a rctractile spring 21, such spring having the remaining end thereof secured within an opening 22 formed in the outer end of the particular arm 16. The forward end portions of the arms 16 are formed with elongated slots 23 respectively and disposed within the slots 23 are pins 24 carried by a vertical bar 25 slidably mounted within guides 26 carried by the inner surface of the adjacent side wall of the casing in proximity to the front wall thereof. In this instance, each arm 16 is formed with an opening 27 disposed adjacent to the arm end of the pawl lever 18 and formed in the proximate edge of the pawl lever 18 is a concavity 28. The opening 27 is designed to receive the free end of the shank of a key 29 and in the rotation of the shank of the key within the opening 27 the lug of the key engages in the concavity 28 in the pawl lever and swings the latter about its pivotal connection with the particular sector 17 with the effect to disengage the pawl end 19 from the teeth of the coacting ratchet wheel 15. Pivoted upon the bracket 3 adjacent to the lower end thereof is a bell crank lever 30 having a horizontal limb and a vertical limb and the horizontal limb projects toward the ratchet wheel 15 on the lower shaft 7 and is formed with a dog 31 designed to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 15 on said shaft to hold such ratchet wheel against retrograde movement succeeding the movement thereof under the action of the pawl lever 18. Also pivoted upon the bracket 3 above the bell crank lever 30 is an angle lever 32 having one limb disposed in a vertical plane and overlying the vertical limb of the bell crank lever 30 and the other limb projecting upwardly outwardly over the ratchet wheel 15 on the upper shaft 6. The last-mentioned limb of the lever 32 is formed with a dog 33 engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 15 on the shaft 6 to hold the last-mentioned shaft against retrograde movement succeeding the rotation of the ratchet 15 thereon under the action of the pawl lever 18. The pawls 31 and 33 are held in engagement with the respective ratchet wheels by means of springs or other appropriate tension devices. In the present instance, the horizontal limb of the bell crank lever 30 is connected to one extremity of a contractile spring 32, the remaining extremity of the latter being secured to the lower end of the bracket 3, while projecting upwardly from the dog carrying limb of the lever 32 is an arm and connected to the arm 35 is one extremity of a contractile spring 36, the remaining .extremity of the latter being connected to an arm 37 uprising from the adjacent bearing of the shaft 6, the spring 36 acting to hold the dog 33 normally in engagement with the ratchet wheel 15 on the shaft 6 and the spring 34 acting to hold the dog 31 normally in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel on the lower shaft 7.

In the present instance, the end of the upper arm 16 is connected with a pull cord 38 extending out of the casing 1 toward the front and rear platforms of the car in which the indicator is installed. The confronting edges of the vertical limbs of the levers 30 and 32 respectively are formed with corresponding concavities 39 and formed in the bracket 3 at the center of the concavities 39 is an opening 40 designed to receive the free end of the shank of the key 29 and when the key is inserted in the opening t0 and turned in one direction or the other the lug thereon engages in one or the other of the concavities 39 with the effect to swing the particular lever against the action of its spring to release the corresponding ratchet wheel.

In practice, when the car is traveling in one direction, the shank 29 is engaged in the opening 27 in the arm 16 on the lower shaft 7 and the key rotated to engage the lug thereon in the concavity 28 in the adjacent pawl lever 18 and as the key is revolved the pawl lever is swung about its pivotal connection with the sector 7 to disengage the pawl 19 from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 15 on the lower shaft 7. The bell crank lever 30 is now swung under the action of the key as previously described and the dog 31 disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 15. To actuate the tape or web 1 to bring the name of the station or street which the car is approaching into the sight window 2, a. pull is exerted upon the pull cord 38, thereby swinging the upper arm 16 about the shaft 6, and in this movement of the arm 16 the pawl 19 on the pawl lever 18 in engagement with the ratchet wheel on the upper shaft revolves the latter through a distance sufficient to bring the following name on the web 14 into the opening 2. Simultaneously with the swinging of the arm 16 on the upper shaft 6 a like motion is imparted to the arm 16 on the lower shaft through the medium of the rod 25, but as the pawl end of the lever 18 connected with the lower arm is out of engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel 15 the latter remains uninllucnced by the pawl and as the holding dog 31 is out of engagement with the lower ratchet wheel the lower drum is free to revolve so that the web or tape may unwind therefrom onto the upper drum. \Vhen the car has reached the limit of its travel and is about to return the upper pawl lever is operated by means of the key to disengage the cerresponding ratchet wheel and the lever 32 similarly actuated to disengage the holding dog from such ratchet wheel, while the pawl lever 18 enacting with the lower ratchet wheel and the bell crank lever 30 are released. It is to be understood that when the two keys 25) are used they remain in place holding the desired parts in inoperative position, while the remaining parts operatively connected perform their functions. When a pull is exerted upon the cord 38, the lower drum winds up the tape or web while the upper drum unwinds as is readily apparent. When the pull cord 38 is released the arms 10 and connecting bar 25 are restored to normal position under the action of a spring connected with the bar 25 or of gravity and in the movement of the parts to normal position the holding dogs act to prevent retrograde movement of the drums.

The drums are preferably octagonal in cross section to facilitate the wr pping of the tape thereon and formed on the hub of the top lever 16 is a radial cam 50, while keyed to the upper shaft 6 adjacent to the hub of the lever 16 is a toothed wheel 51 having the teeth thereon spaced apart and corresponding in number with the faces of the adjacent drum 8.

53 designates a holding bar pivoted at one end to a bracket 51 depending from the top u all of the casing and having the remaining end portion thereof lying in contact with the cam 50.

In operation, when the lever 16 is moved upwardly to rotate the shaft 6, the bar 53 is relieved of the influence of the cam 50 and drrps into the space immediately behind the adjacent tooth and in the rotation of the drum 8 and the toothed wheel 51, the following tooth abuts the bar and so prevents undue movement of the drum 8. When the core is released and the lever 16 restored to normal position the cam 50 again engages the bar 5 3 and elevates the latter to release the adjacent teeth so that when the cord 38 is again pulled the drum may be again rotated through the desired distance.

It will of course be understood that the indicator is located at any convenient point on the car and is supported in any suitable or preferred manner.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described the preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A station indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening therein, shafts ournaled in the casing, drums fixed upon said shafts respectively, a tape having the ends thereof secured to and wrapped about said drums respectively and movable across said sight opening and having indieia thereon, a ratchet wheel fixed upon one end of each shaft, an arm pivoted upon each shaft and capable of s inging movement, a pawl lever carried by each arm and having the pawl end thereof normally in engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel, one wall of the casing and said arm having alined slots, a key adapted to be removabh positioned within said slots for engz-igement with said lever, whereby either one of said pavvls may be moved and held in an inoperative position with respect to its corresponding ratchet wheel, means interconnecting said arms for simultaneous movement, and means for swinging said arm.

A station indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening therein, shafts journaled in the casing, drums fixed upon said shafts respectively, a tape having the ends thereof secured to and wrapped about said drums respectively and movable across said sight opening, said tape having indicia thereon, a ratchet wheel fixed upon one. end of each shaft. an arm pivoted upon each shaft and capable of swinging movement. a pawl lever carried by each arm and having the pawl end thereof normally in engage ment with the corresponding ratchet wneel, one wall of the casing havin a slot registering with an opening in said. arms, a key adapted to be passed through said slot into the opening in said arm for engagement with said lever, whereby either of said levers may be moved to and held in an inoperative position with respect to its corresponding ratchet wheel, means for interconnecting said arms for simultaneous movement, and manually operable means for swinging said arms.

3. A station indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening therein. shafts journalcd in the casing, drums fixed upon said shafts respectively, a tape having the ends thereof secured to and wrapped about said drum respectively and movable across said sight opening, said tape having indicia thereon, a ratchet wheel fixed upon one end of each shaft, an arm pivoted upon each shaft and capable of swinging movement, a pawl lever carried by each arm and having a pawl end thereof normally in engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel, a key adapted to be inserted through a slot in said casing to engage said lever, whereby either one of said pawl levers may be moved to and held in an inoperative position with respect to its corresponding ratchet wheel, means interconnecting said arms for simultaneous movement, means for swinging said arms, and a pair of holding dogs engaging the respective ratchet wheels to hold the lat ter against retrograde movement.

a A station indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening therein, shafts jourualed in the casing, drums lined upon said shafts respectively, a tape having the ends thereof secured to and wrapped about said drums respectivel and movable across said sight opening, said tape having indicia thereon, a ratchet wheel fixed upon one end of each shaft, an arm pivoted upon each shaft and capable of swinging movement, a pawl lever carried by each arm and having the pawl end thereof normally in engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel, means for holding either of said pawl levers in an inoperative position with respect to its corresponding ratchet wheel, means interconnecting said arms for simultaneous movement, means for swinging said arms, a pair of holding dogs pivoted within said casing and normally en aging the respective ratchet wheels to hold the latter against retrograde movement, and a key adapted to be positioned between the adjacent ends of said dogs whereby either of the latter may be moved to and held in an inoperative posi tion.

5. A station indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening, shafts iournaled in the casing, drums fixed upon said shafts respectively, a tape having the ends thereof secured and wrapped about said drums respectively and movable across said sight opening, said tape having indicia thereon, a

ratchet wheel fixed upon one end of each shaft, an arm pivoted upon each shaft and capable of swinging movement, a pawl lever carried by each arm and having the pawl end thereof norn'ially in engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel, a key adapted to be inserted within said casing for engagement with said arm and lever, whereby either of said levers may be moved to and held in an inoperative position, means interconnecting said arms for simultaneous movement, means for swinging said arms, a pair of holding dogs normally engaging the respective ratchet wheels to hold the latter against retrograde movement, and a second key adapted to be inserted within 7 between the adjacent ends of sa' dog, whereby either of the latter may be moved to and held in an inoperative position.

(3. A station indicator comprising a casing hav ing a sight opening therein, shafts jourualed in the casing. drums fixed upon said shafts respectively, a tape having the ends thereof secured to and wrapped about said drums respectively and movable across said sight opening, said tape having indicia thereon, a ratchet wheel fixed upon one end of each shaft, an arm pivoted upon. each shaft and capable of swinging movement, a pawl lever carried by each arm and having a pawl end thereof normally in engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheel, means for rendering one or the other of said pawl and ratchet mechanisms inoperative, means interconnecting said arms vfor simultaneous movement, means for swinging said arms, a toothed wheel mounted upon the end of one said shafts, a mem ber freely pivoted within said casing, and adapted to engage said toothed wheel to limit the rotatioi'i of said drun'is, and a cam carried by said arms and cooperating with said member to normally hold the latter in inoperative position.

Tn testimony whereof I a liix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. POOL.

lVitnesses:

THEO. M. ic'ckrrnr, Francis H. liiinmrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

